Andrew Wiggins Goes No. 1 In 2014 NBA Draft To Cleveland Cavaliers

It’s a good day for Andrew Wiggins and a landmark day for Canadian basketball.

The Cleveland Cavaliers chose Wiggins, a Vaughn, Ont. native, with their No. 1 first round pick during the NBA draft on Thursday. He is the second Canadian in two years to be selected by the team as their top choice.

“It's crazy,” Wiggins said to TSN shortly after stepping off the stage at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

Wiggins, often nicknamed the “Canadian LeBron,” is the son of former NBA player Mitchell Wiggins and former track and field Olympian Marita Payne-Wiggins. The 6-8 small forward recently wrapped up a year of playing college ball with the University of Kansas Jayhawks.

The reality of being selected to play in the NBA is nothing short of a dream come true for the teen, who was praised by an Eastern Conference scout for his “gallops” and “glides.”

“We all had hoop dreams, we all wanted to play in the NBA,” Wiggins said to reporters at a midtown Manhattan hotel on Wednesday.

He was joined by fellow Ontarians Tyler Ennis, 19, of Brampton and Nick Stauskas, 20, of Mississauga at the press conference. In the weeks leading up to the draft, experts considered the trio to be prime first round pick contenders.

“It’s huge, especially having three people that high in the draft. I don’t think that’s ever been done before in Canada, maybe we’ve had one or two. But now we have three guys,” Wiggins said.

Stauskas was selected by the Sacramento Kings as No. 8 overall in the draft. Whereas Ennis went to the Phoenix Suns as their No. 18 pick.

It's a big day for Canadian basketball, and at least one American sports reporter noticed:

Last year, Toronto’s Anthony Bennett was the league’s No. 1 overall pick, also drafted by the Cavaliers. But he failed to live up to the team’s expectations after playing a disappointing rookie season.

Wiggins, who just 24 hours earlier sat in a hotel room swarmed by journalists, admitted he’s been feeling "anxious" over the past few weeks. So he looked to none other than his dad for some advice.

“I always talk to him about it. He just said take it day by day. Don’t think about the past, don’t think about the future, just take it day by day,” he said.

“Just stay humble, and the sky is the limit.”

With files from The Canadian Press

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2014 NBA Mock Draft

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Wiggins is purely an upside pick, and I had his teammate, center Joel Embiid, slotted here until the news about the stress fracture in his foot. Undoubtedly, Wiggins was productive as a freshman, and yet every component of his game is in its infancy stages. Talent-wise, though, Wiggins is off the charts. He has the ability to become a total lockdown defender and elite scorer, but whether or not he does is anyone's guess. He will certainly be excited to play alongside point guard Kyrie Irving.

There may not be a more skilled offensive player in this draft class than Parker, who at 6 foot 8 has a mature inside-outside game (36 percent from 3) and is unselfish almost to a fault. Defensively, he remains a work in progress, but Milwaukee needs scoring and a face for its franchise. Parker can be both.

Philly wants to move up, but this pick is based on the 76ers staying put. With his smooth offensive game, the 6-foot-6, 18-year-old Aussie has seen a meteoric draft board rise. Remember, he had zero D1 offers in 2011. While Exum didn't test particularly well athletically at the pre-draft combine, he possesses both the size (his wingspan is an incredible 82 inches) and the skill set to become a top-notch lead guard in time. Alongside Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams, Exum becomes either an instant running mate or gives Philly the ability to trade MCW.

General manager Rob Henigan and the Magic have been highly active, but Embiid is just a wonderful fit. Two-way 7-foot centers with athleticism, dexterity and touch do not come along very often, but Embiid, who has been playing basketball for three years, is that guy through and through. Despite the health concerns, there is no way that Orlando can pass on Embiid's upside with the fourth pick. Remember, he was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.

Utah has been rumored to be shopping this pick, but I don't see a deal getting made. What makes Vonleh so exciting is the high floor and ceiling -- there is little bust potential here. At 6 foot 10 with solid athleticism and natural feet and hands, Vonleh will instantly help the Jazz as a stretch four who can play alongside Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter. He is an area rebounder as well: Vonleh tied Embiid for the best defensive rebounding percentage last season.

Gordon is a raw but remarkably athletic prospect (39-inch vertical) with potentially elite defensive tools. A natural finisher in the paint, he should be able to play two NBA positions and guard up to three. The next step is to develop a consistent perimeter game, but he makes a lot of sense for what Brad Stevens and the Celtics are trying to do long-term. Another thing to watch out for here is a trade: Boston has some pieces that could help acquire Kevin Love from Minnesota.

GM Mitch Kupchak will be active during the offseason pursuing the likes of Kevin Love. Randle's "grown man" game, meanwhile, is a rarity these days -- he's an insatiable rebounder and a true power forward with terrific moves inside. The Lakers' entire front line, including Pau Gasol, enters free agency this summer, and if the 19-year-old Randle develops a perimeter jumper, he will become a lethal offensive player as well.

Hopefully, Sacramento will make a pick to help change its culture both on and off the floor. McDermott -- the Naismith and Wooden Award winner who averaged 27 points per game to lead the nation -- is a prolific inside-outside scorer who tested surprisingly well at the pre-draft combine, boasting a stellar 36.5 inch vertical. He is a true stretch forward who can play right away and will open up the floor for DeMarcus Cousins.

Stauskas and Charlotte are a perfect marriage -- each one needs the other. The Bobcats are beginning to build something with Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson, but they desperately need a knockdown shooter to spread the floor. The 6-foot-7 Stauskas is a plug-and-play guy because of how well the rest of his game has come along. A 44 percent 3-point shooter who can also drive the ball, he could become one of the steals of this draft.

Saric, at 6 foot 10 with perimeter skills, is one of the most intriguing talents in the draft. There's no telling whether he'll stay in Europe, but his youth (he's 20) and his abundance of talent represent excellent value at this point. Assuming that the 76ers grab Exum at 3, grabbing a hyper versatile big this late in the lottery like Saric would make sense.

A silky smooth combo guard with excellent basketball instincts, Harris represents an ideal fit alongside Ty Lawson. At times during his two-year collegiate career, he has displayed a tendency to settle for jumpers and casually defend, but Harris -- with his rangy 6-foot-7 wingspan -- is a Bradley Beal type who can make a positive impact right away.

Smart finally comes off the board. His talent is undeniable -- he is a powerful, nasty point guard with elite athleticism who can take over a game with his will to win. But at what cost? Everyone remembers the incident in Lubbock last season. He is a true wildcard in this draft, which is why he slips all the way to the tail end of the lottery.

All-Star Kevin Love's cloudy future is the main story in Minnesota, but Payton emerged late in the season and has continued his ascent ever since. A super scorer with natural attacking instincts in the open floor, Payton would infuse a much-needed quickness to the downtrodden Minnesota backcourt. Payton's not a shooter yet, but he is a super-efficient scorer who can start right away alongside Ricky Rubio.

We now know that GM Ryan McDonough is "unlikely" to keep his three first-rounders. Young had a terrific NCAA Tournament for national runner-up Kentucky, and has ridden the momentum all the way into the lottery. Like Stauskas, Young possesses great size at 6 foot 8, and has the ability to score all over the floor. He's not a knockdown shooter yet, but he's only 18 years old, and in time he may become one. In the meantime, his versatility on both sides of the ball is a boon for a Suns team that is inching its way closer in the wild west.

With a 41.5-inch vertical leap, LaVine is the best leaper in this draft not named Andrew Wiggins, but he is remarkably green and could have used a second year of college after averaging 9 points per game as a freshman. Still, his upside as a 6-foot-6 combo guard who can really handle the ball is too much to pass on at 15.

The Bulls are an interesting team to watch right now, because they could very well move up with their two first-round picks. As a senior, Payne became a matchup nightmare with his improved marksmanship from the perimeter (42 percent). He is a big-time athlete who runs the floor and can block shots, and he'll fit in very nicely alongside All-Star Joakim Noah in the Bulls' front court. And when Derrick Rose returns, Payne will make an ideal pick-and-pop option.

Boston nabs Hood, a wonderfully talented scorer who can really fill it up from deep (42 percent last season). At 6 foot 8, Hood has the ability to become a highly versatile scorer who can defend multiple positions.

This may be a tad high for him and he could slip, but Hairston is one of the best shooters in the draft. However, he comes off a season in which he was suspended on charges of possession of marijuana and driving without a license. Still, Hairston has a true NBA two-guard body at 6 foot 5 and 230 lbs., and he is a powerful athlete to boot, filling a need for the Suns on the wing. Hairston and Young could be the starting two and three of the future.

Warren is coming off a sensational sophomore campaign in which he averaged 25 points on a tournament team. While not an elite athlete, he does possess the size (6 foot 8, 220 lbs.) and the necessary inside-outside ability to be a starting small forward. Chicago was hardly the same sans Luol Deng. Warren is a guy who will instantly infuse offense into a Bulls team in desperate need of scoring.

Ennis, who is from Canada, would be an ideal fit for a Raptors team that appears unlikely to retain free agent point guard Kyle Lowry. A true point guard, Ennis displayed a great all-around feel as a freshman, and a real flair for the dramatic. He will need to add strength and improve more in the pick-and-roll, but this is a potential steal for GM Masai Ujiri and Toronto.

I've gotten to know Early a little, and he is a "team guy" as well as a natural, fluid scorer with an entire arsenal of tricks. He torched an NBA-filled Kentucky team for 31 points in the NCAA Tournament, and has followed it up with an impressive combine performance. At 6 foot 7 with a 40-inch vertical, Early's got an NBA body and a skill set that translates right away for a Thunder team that could use more size on the perimeter.

The 6-foot-9 Stokes is nothing special athletically, but he can score on the block with his left hand and loves to rebound (11 per game as a junior). Memphis needs to add more bulk to aid Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph.

At 6 foot 8, Anderson is a remarkable talent who can really handle the ball as a lead guard. He loves to create for others -- hence, his nearly 7 assists as a sophomore last year. As he develops his post-up game, Anderson's versatile scoring ability will make him a valuable NBA player. Nicknamed "Slo-Mo," it's hard not to compare him to San Antonio's Boris Diaw. Keep an eye out for Missouri's Jordan Clarkson in this range; several teams could snag him.

It's back-to-back Bruins as Adams, a true scorer (17 points on an efficient 49 percent shooting) who can fill it up in a hurry, heads to Charlotte. The Hornets -- who could also go big with this pick -- appear to be finally heading in the right direction (the name change helps), and Adams, despite his obvious athletic limitations (29.5-inch vertical), fills a gaping need alongside Nik Stauskas.

GM Daryl Morey loves shooters, and the 6-foot-5 Wilcox has a definable NBA skill as one of the draft's premier 3-point shooters (39 percent). With his 6-foot-10 wingspan, he could develop into a quality defender. Houston has a big decision to make with restricted free agent Chandler Parsons as well, and Wilcox can really spread the floor.

McGary may not be Zach Randolph, but the comparison can certainly be made. His size and bulk, coupled with soft hands and a knack for rebounding, make McGary a very intriguing possibility for Miami. He barley played as a sophomore due to injury and almost all of his offense as a freshman came from pick-and-roll, but as the Finals showed us, the Heat need to get younger and more athletic on the block, and McGary is an absolute workhorse.

The 6-foot-11 Capela is a terrific athlete with major upside to play both the four and five spots. Phoenix needs to add more length and scoring inside to compete in the west, and Capela is a lottery-type talent who shouldn't have lasted this long. GM Ryan McDonough is known to have a keen eye for finding international talent.

Napier is the reason why I picked UConn in the Final Four. He is a pure killer who will find a way to win, even when his buttery jumper is not working. A former McDonald's All-American who learned from Kemba Walker, Napier's harassing on-ball defense and leadership qualities (he averaged 21 points in the title run) from the point guard position will be phenomenal under the tutelage of Chris Paul. Napier ranks first all-time in UConn free throws made, an incredible number when you consider the names that have gone through that program. However, he may not stick around this long.

Johnson is an ideal fit for GM Sam Presti and an OKC team that has never been able to fill the void of James Harden. An elite athlete and true two-way player, Johnson -- the Pac-12 Player of the Year as a junior -- will be able to play right away on both sides of the ball.

Kane, a Marshall transfer who had a fantastic senior season in Ames, is a classic "Spurs player." He's versatile (17 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists on 48 percent shooting and 40 percent from distance), he's unselfish, he's perhaps overlooked and he knows how to win. At 6 foot 4, he possesses superb size for a lead guard, and the fact that he's 25 years old means he should be available this late in the first round for the world champs.